Here are the study abstracts from The International Association for Cannabis as Medicine: http://www.cannabis-med.org/meeting/Cologne2009/reader.pdf

Also, in an upcoming British study, "researchers added to the body of evidence indicating that marijuana can aid the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Two-hundred and seventy-nine patients received either a standardized cannabis extract, given orally, or a placebo. Patients receiving the extract were twice as likely to experience relief of muscle stiffness, and also reported relief of body pain, spasms, and sleep problems."

I'd also suggest reading the recent (Sept. 11, 2009) Forbes magazine cover-story on the medical marijuana legalization in California.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/11/magazines/fortune/medical_marijuana_legalizing.fortune/index.htm

In regards to the claim that the FDA doesn't find any medical use for marijuana, that simply isn't true. From the Forbes article, "In 1986 the FDA approved a synthetic version of what has long been recognized to be the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana — delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. After rigorous testing, the FDA found THC to be safe and effective for the treatment of nausea, vomiting, and wasting diseases. This lawful, Schedule II drug, trade-named Marinol, is taken orally, by capsule." So in one statement the FDA claims marijuana possesses no medical benefits, but later on they approve a drug containing the active ingredient of marijuana because it has tangible medical benefits. Additionally, anyone familiar with the legislative history/debate of criminalizing marijuana in 1937 will recall that Congress outlawed marijuana despite the ojection and disagreement from the American Medical Association.

On the historical use of marijuana, marijuana has been used for medical uses a longer period of time than it has been criminalized. Criminalization of marijuana is a recent trend. From the Forbes article, "Marijuana, whose botanical name is cannabis, has been used medicinally — and as an intoxicant, of course — for thousands of years in Eastern cultures. It is believed to have been introduced to Western medicine in the early 19th century by a British doctor, W.B. O'Shaughnessy, who learned about it while stationed in India (and for whom the medical cannabis newsletter is named)."

In conclusion, marijuana (while abused and not always taken for medical benefit) does in fact posess real medical benefits that makes the lives of countless sick people better and more comfortable. Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is a form of "compassionate conservatism" that i can live with. Claiming that it should remain off-limits to the sick when it can cure their ailments and do so more safely than most prescription drugs is just cruel.

It's a shame that uninformed opinions and outdated perceptions of a drug continues to prevent the sick from comfort and care.

The people growing it and selling it out of there fly by night shops are doing so not out of concern for medical issues of the people buying it but for a profit and a hugh profit. If California is in such financial straits why doesn't it support having medicinal marijuana legalized and taxed?

"When a President – any President, for any reason – fails to enforce the law or disobeys the law, it is a violation of the bedrock principle of democracy, because the law is the voice of the people, and the people have the right to rule themselves."

I guess that the Rule of Law is important when you can hammer the other side with it. We all need to be more consistent and hold both sides to the same standard. I am guilty of the same bias. I excused the overspending of the Republican controlled congress, why shouldn't they be able to buy some votes of their own? Liberals were never concerned about fiscal responsibility until the Republicans finally got their hands on Congress and then were also guilty of overspending. The law is supposed to be blind, but politics has infiltrated everything. We need to get together and stop both sides from trampling our rights.

Personally, I get more and more Libertarian every day. I am about an eyelash from concluding that if people want to use drugs, then we should let them.

My problem with medical marijuana is that it is a scam. There is no legitimate use for marijuana. There are other pain killers. It does not cure anything. What does marijuana do that nothing else does? People talk their doctor into parking passes and prescription window tinting. It is an abuse of the system. With the possible exception of appetite enhancer with regard to White Castle & Twinkies.

It sounds like you agree with limiting the power of the commerce clause.

I am however reminded of your reasoning for the EPA. Holding off the race to the bottom. Widespread use of marijuana would definitely leave some scars in it's wake.